what are stacy petersons chances of getting justice? i'm going to tell you what i think. >>> live in america's news headquarters i'm marianne rafferty. parts of the northeast are recovering after strong storms barrel through the region. this is one of the two tornadoes which the national weather service now confirms did strike new york city's coastline on saturday. the storms some bearing 110-mile per hour winds caused flash flooding and damaged homes across several neighborhoods. no injuries report the but this is the same system that killed four people in oklahoma on friday. that the hour, hundreds of thousands without power from the mid atlantic to new england. >>> and terrorism leslie expected to intensify into a hurricane sometime sunday. bermuda preparing for strong winds, rain and dangerous ocean conditions but the storm will probably skirt the island. the airport will stay open unless the storm track changes. however, major airlines already canceled flights. i'm marianne rafferty. now, back to "justice" with judge jeanine. faulk

the other stacy peterson's pastor joins us now from chicago. pastor, thanks so much for being with us. >> i'm glad to be with you, judge. >> you ministered to drew and his wife apparently for the first time in 2005. do you remember anything about them? was there anything about this couple that stood out to you? >> well, i think their age difference was the biggest thing that stood out. he is much, much older than stacy. >> judge jeanine: and it is about 30 years or something. after that first meet in 2007 stacy peterson calls you and wants to meet with you so you meet with her at a starbucks. tell us what she said to you? >> i met her at the starbucks and stacy after we talked for awhile about regular marriage issues she said she wanted to tell me something and i said well, stacy, if you would like to share something with meow can but i don't want you to feel any pressure. after a little bit of time she said she just blurted out he did it. and i said what do you mean, he did what? and she said drew killed kathleen. >> judge jeanine: what did yo

peterson's defense attorneys said they wouldn't have done anything differently and that peterson is ok with the jury's decision but they're not done. >> believe me there will be an appeal, there are several world- class people that are just waiting to sink their teeth into this case. then they may drew peterson the victim in this case the man who always gave an interview in always mugged for the camera. >> he's been the favorite target of the media and the people, they passed a law specifically to get this individual do you really think someone can take on the government and win in a case like this? it's almost impossible. kathy savio could have never accidentally drowned in that top and testimony from witnesses, stacey petersons pastor said stacy told him she lied to police about where her husband was denied savio was murdered he prayed with gem over the phone and cried when he heard guilty. >> i got to be a voice. >> drew peterson could get 20-60 years in prison, the state attorney said he will push for the latter argument that peterson is the prime suspect in his fourth wife's disap

stunning testimony in the drew peterson murder trial. we and we alone have the witness who provided the most powerful evidence in the trial that drew peterson said he killed his third wife kathleen savio. welcome to "justice." i'm judge jeanine pirro. tonight a justice exclusive. harry smith, kathleen savio's divorce attorney joins us to say exactly what peterson's fourth wife stacy told him about the murder of kathleen savio. their conversation just days before stacy vanished never to be seen again. and even more shocking, harry smith was a defense witness. why on earth would the dwho dod call a witness whose testimony would not only incriminate their client but whose testimony is downright damning. but let's back up. week five in the drew peterson murder trial. the evidence is in. the witnesses have testified. the experts have battled. the truth seeking process fully engaged and the jurors about to make one of the most important decisions of their lives. i told you before that is trial is not assiege for the truth. a search for the tru

stunning testimony in the drew peterson murder trial. we and we alone have the witness who provided the most powerful evidence in the trial that drew peterson said he killed his third wife kathleen savio. welcome to "justice." i'm judge jeanine pirro. tonight a justice exclusive. harry smith, kathleen savio's divorce attorney joins us to say exactly what peterson's fourth wife stacy told him about the murder of kathleen savio. their conversation just days before stacy vanished never to be seen again. and even more shocking, harry smith was a defense witness. why on earth would the defense who doesn't have to say a word call a witness whose testimony would not only incriminate their client but whose testimony is downright damning. but let's back up. week five in the drew peterson murder trial. the evidence is in. the witnesses have testified. the experts have battled. the truth seeking process fully engaged and the jurors about to make one of the most important decisions of their lives. i told you before that is trial is not assiege for t

then my summation on the whole drew peterson trill. stay with us.ay t peterson -- trial. stay with us. where sleepless nights yield to restful sleep. and lunesta can help you get there, like it has for so many people before. when taking lunesta, don't drive or operate machinery until you feel fully awake. walking, eating, driving, or engaging in other activities while asleep, without remembering it the next day, have been reported. abnormal behaviors may include aggressiveness, agitation, hallucinations or confusion. in depressed patients, worsening of depression, including risk of suicide, may occur. alcohol may increase these risks. allergic reactions, such as tongue or throat swelling, occur rarely and may be fatal. side effects may include unpleasant taste, headache, dizziness and morning drowsiness. ask your doctor if lunesta is right for you. then find out how to get lunesta for as low as $15 at lunesta.com. there's a land of restful sleep. we can help you go there on the wings of lunesta. to experience the ultimate expression of power... control. [ engine revs ] du

drew peterson's attorney joel brodsky, says peterson's sons are hurt and broken-up over the conviction, and mad at the savio family. drew's and kathleen savio's oldest son, tom peterson posted a message on his facebook page: "i'm extremely disappointed." ...who do i have left? who do my siblings have left? ...the pastor, the lawyer my aunts, and all of my mom's friends who listened to my mother's pleas and didn't do anything about it. now she is dead, and you went forth to break the constitution to blame my dad." right after the verdict drew had his attorney pass on this message to his kids: >>they should keep doing well ... if they are we doing well and being successful drew peterson can take what ever comes his way and will be fine as long as his children are fine it's the most important thing to him ... the will county sheriff's office confirms several jurors in the drew peterson case will address the media this afternoon around 1 o'clock ... we will bring that to you live here on wgn tv as well as cltv, and stream on our website wgn tv dot com. police believe a bus picking up stude

>> tell me who it is. >> this is your arch enemy. >> is this drew peterson? >> it shelling attacks sure is. how have you been? >> geraldo: i don't have much to say to you except that i can't wait until you get indicted. that is all i can say to you. i don't know why people in the media kiss your ass to put your on television. i think you are a repulsive person. >> geraldo: i worried that drew peterson would charm his way to acquittal but the jury in the case did something many in the media were unable to. they saw right through drew's bull. here is craig. >> finally somebody heard kathleen's cries. 12 people did the right thing. oh, thank god. >> the scene here at the will county courthouse in joliet, illinois is much quieter. no more jeers or cheering but to the family members of kathleen savio it was her voice that spoke the loudest. >> she spoke from the grave. she came alive again. she came back and said look, this man did it to me. >> never believing aunt kitty drown after a fall in her tub, march 2004 charlie dolman watched as his frustrated mother and

>> tell me who it is. >> this is your arch enemy. >> is this drew peterson? >> it shelling attacks sure is. how have you been? >> geraldo: i don't have much to say to you except that i can't wait until you get indicted. that is all i can say to you. i don't know why people in the media kiss your ass to put your on television. i think you are a repulsive person. >> geraldo: i worried that drew peterson would charm his way to acquittal but the jury in the case did something many in the media were unable to. they saw right through drew's bull. here is craig. >> finally somebody heard kathleen's cries. 12 people did the right thing. oh, thank god. >> the scene here at the will county courthouse in joliet, illinois is much quieter. no more jeers or cheering but to the family members of kathleen savio it was her voice that spoke the loudest. >> she spoke from the grave. she came alive again. she came back and said look, this man did it to me. >> never believing aunt drown after a fall in her tub, march 2004 charlie dolman watched as his frustrated mother and other

do you think that drew peterson got a fair shake here? this despicable man? >> i think he had certainly he had a good trial. he had a good -- he had lots of representation. and i think it turned out that he turned off people because of his attitude. and i think the evidence, they had very good forensic pathologists on the defense side who said this is an accident. but the jury from what the jurors have said they knew right away they agreed that it was a homicide based on all of the evidence and it was who done it took them a little long. >> geraldo: sharon, you live next door to drew peterson's home, i believe. his son steven the adult son has been caring for the four children including the two stacy children. what happens to the four little children now you? >> well they will live with steve now. i think probably forever. and it seems to be working out pretty well. the children look pretty happy. they have really begun to move on with their life and although such a sad and tragic, tragic thing for all four kids, and even steve and eric the two older ones, it

we told that attorneys for peterson have been talking to peterson in the days leading up to the final arguments and the jury deliberations and that peterson was ready to accept whatever verdict came down which sounded at least in this report are's opinion like he was getting ready to lose a particular case. but it is a consensus of opinion, and we have not heard from the jury yet, two key pieces of evidence were the testimony of her divorce attorney and her pastor which ran through what it is she said drew told her about committing this homicide. and that this particular testimony was permitted by a very unique law in illinois. you can argue that it was designed specifically for this particular case. you could call it the drew peterson law or the savio law but we have a conviction. look for a constitutional challenge to the conviction on exactly this hearsaleh. the defense attorneys promised it. >>shepard: thank you. the power of aspirin plus more in a triple action formula to relieve your tough migraines. new bayer migraine formula. or annuity over 10 or even 20 years? call imperial

peterson had denied wrongdoing in the cases of both wives. he'll be sentenced november 26th and facing a maximum of 60 years behind bars. >> we'll have much more tonight at 5:00 and 6:00. >>> now to that elaborate hoax played out at philadelphia international airport today.

but in 2007, the case was reopened after peterson's fourth wife, stacy peterson went missing. savio's body was resumed and her death reclassified as a homicide. drew peterson was never charged in stacy's death. after more than five weeks of testimony and a day and a half of jury deliberations, the former illinois police chief was found guilty of murdering savio. >> he was a thug. he would threaten people because he had a gun and april badge. and nobody ever took him on. we took him on now and he lost. >>> an illinois state law passed as a result of the trial allowed the prosecution to include an unusual amount of circumstantial evidence, including testimony from the friend of kathleen savio who said kathleen told her a story about how drew threatened her at knifepoint. >> it's a dark day in america when you can convict somebody on hearsay evidence. >> peterson, now 58 years oiled, could face up to 60 years behind bars when he's sentenced next month. bigad shaban, cbs news, los angeles. >>> coming up, your friday morning weather, and the they lose their lead in the american lea

peterson not only gets love letters, he also gets money. strangers have mailed him thousands of dollars. >> with scott i would say that he's adjusted very, very well. he hasn't had any issues with any of the other inmate population that he's allowed to interact with. he stays to himself, he minds the rules here. he's become a programming inmate. >> reporter: peterson is not the only celebrity on the row. richard ramirez the night stalker gets requests for locks of his hair. ramirez is responsible for at least 16 horrifying murders. a rapists, slasher torturer. >> my first interaction with richard ramirez. i remember about 12 years ago now i was escorting him across the yard to a visit. and just i was having light

drew peterson said second wife said that drew peterson was missing the night that kathleen savio was murdered and came home washing women's clothes and told her to lie to police if they ask about his whereabouts. prosecutors were never allowed to give a theory about how drew killed kathleen but jurors thought of their own one was that drew drowned in the bathroom sink. >> shue possibly broker clavicle over the toilet or the sink. that is a heavy heavy decision for anyone to make you don't take it lightly i don't think anybody took the decision lightly and as for their daily matching clothes on the lighter side of the proceeding, it came out of boredom. from there probably spend more time and the jury room than the court room. >> the jury said they were all comfortable with the guilty verdict and without the hearsay testimony they're not sure if it would have convicted her peterson. they said that divorce lawyer harry smith's testimony really tipped the scales for them. >> if so little overwhelming to hear that the jurors thought i was a tipping point but i'm also glad i could help. >

there was also testimony from a former co-worker of drew peterson saying that peterson offered him $25,000 for a hit on his third wife ... defense attorneys say their client is prepared mentally and emotionally for what the jury decides ... >>he hopes to go home but he is prepared to either way the closing arguments included guilt beyond a reasonable doubt statements as well as examining the evidence ... coming up next, the crisis in syria continues... a child is playing in her mothers lap when she's shot by stray bullet in the cheek - her family wants answers. also ahead: a controversial new book about the raid that killed osama bin laden goes on sale today. [ male announcer ] this is rudy. his morning starts with arthritis pain. and two pills. afternoon's overhaul starts with more pain. more pills. triple checking hydraulics. the evening brings more pain. so, back to more pills. almost done, when... hang on. stan's doctor recommended aleve. it can keep pain away all day with fewer pills than tylenol. this is rudy. who switched to aleve. and two pills for a day free of pain. ♪ ♪ [ fem

peterson about kathleen savio is death before stacy peterson went missing ... were thinking maybe the jurors have given each other assignments to deal with both hearsay and the forensic evidence ... some of them were taking notes when the hearsay was being read back others were paying closer attention to the forensic scientists it's very difficult to read ... joel brodsky is addressing the media at this moment he said earlier that if this goes three or four days he believes it might be a hung jury there's no verdict at and no sign of what the jury is thinking they have not requested any thing and have no questions today drew peterson ran now is being held in a holding cell in the basement of the court house here during the deliberations we will bring you any late breaking developments us and as they happen the attorney who represented kevin fox... the man wrongfully convicted of murdering his daughter riley... believes the jury will deliver a guilty verdict in the drew peterson trial. i think when you look at the autopsy photographs they might get past the home

but in 2007, the case was reopened after peterson's fourth wife, stacy peterson went missing. savio's body was resumed and her -- was exhumed and her death reclassified as a homicide. drew peterson was never charged in stacy's death. after more than five weeks of testimony and a day and a half of jury deliberations, the former illinois police chief was found guilty of murdering savio. >> he was a thug. he would threaten people because he had a gun and a badge. and nobody ever took him on. we took him on now and he lost. >>> an illinois state law passed as a result of the trial allowed the prosecution to include an unusual amount of circumstantial evidence, including testimony from the friend of kathleen savio who said kathleen told her a story about how drew threatened her at knifepoint. >> it's a dark day in america when you can convict somebody on hearsay evidence. >> peterson, now 58 years old, could face up to 60 years behind bars when he's sentenced next month. bigad shaban, cbs news, los angeles. >>> coming up, your friday morning weather and in sports, the bucs lose the

drew peterson insisted stacy had run off with another man. he spoke with matt in november 2007. >> can you look me straight in the eye and tell me you had nothing to do with the death of your third wife kathy or the disappearance of your fourth wife stacy? >> i can look right in your eye and say i had nothing to do with either of those instances. >> reporter: but acquaintances with stacy came forward with stories they say told him, how peterson had threatened to kill her and how he asked her to provide him with an alibi the night savio died. >> i could not come up with any reason in my mind to not put him at the scene without a reasonable doubt. >> reporter: in 2008, the state of illinois passed a la allowing such hearsay evidence. it was dubbed "the drew law." >> will this conviction stick? in my opinion we'll end up in the supreme court of the united states on this case. >> reporter: the defense team immediately says it plans to appeal the kicconviction. >> reporter: now the friends and fame of stacy say they want drew peterson charged with

and peterson could now face up to 60 years in prison. abc's alex perez is in chicago with the very latest on this case. good morning, alex. >> reporter: good morning, elizabeth. peterson had been behind bars waiting 3 1/2 years for this day. he was stone-faced and staring at the jury, when the verdict was read. >> finally, someone heard kathleen's cry. 12 people did the right thing. thank god. >> reporter: it's the justice kathleen savio's family never thought they would get. >> i'll never have my sister again. i still have to see her in a cemetery. at least i know she got justice wrch drew peterson's five-week murder trial centered on controversial hearsay evidence, that he had threatened savio. after hours of deliberations, 11 jurors agreed that peterson was guilty of first-degree murder. and they took five more hours to convince a holdout. >> i did not feel comfortable with joining the rest of the jury to convict. i was concerned about the hearsay evidence. >> reporter: savio and peterson were in the middle of a contentious divorce wh

peterson was arrested and charged with two counts of murder. at the time of his arrest he was carrying thousands of dollars in cash and several credit cards. he had also changed his appearance by dying his hair blond and growing a goatee. after a six-month trial a jury convicted peterson of killing laci and her unborn son and sentenced him to death, although peterson has always maintained his innocence. he remains on death row at san quentin state prison in california, and now these never-before-seen photos of peterson from just last june show a glimpse of his life inside. living at the largest death row in the country, peterson has his own cell identical to this one and is reportedly allowed to spend up to five hours a day outside of it, exercising or shooting hoops with other inmates. in july peterson's attorneys filed an appeal to the california supreme court alleging he did not have a fair trial. the appeal is expected to take years to resolve. nancy mulane is the journalist who took those photos of scott peterson and her book is called "li

peterson is a former police officer. he became a household name after the disappearance of his fourth wife, stacy. peterson has denied wrongdoing in both cases. he faces a maximum 60 years in prison. >>> now to a safety alert for parents. a new kind of laundry detergeants is making toddlers sick. we're talking about the detergent pods, the colorful pods you have next to your washing machine. >> they're small, shiny, look edible to some. many children think they're candy. there are some simple things adults can do to reduce the risk. >> reporter: they are the latest in laundry. detergent pods, tiny packets that go in the wash, no pouring our measuring needed, a timesaver for busy parents. >> put one in, close the laundry and you're set. >> when they take the plunge, they dissolve quickly and completely. >> reporter: grownups aren't the only once attracted. >> it looks like candy. >> reporter: they're shapes, bright colors. >> reporter: with the shiny packaging and candy coloring, an alarming number of children are eating

and peterson could now face up to 60 years in prison. abc's alex perez is in chicago with the very latest on this case. good morning, alex. >> reporter: good morning, elizabeth. peterson had been behind bars waiting 3 1/2 years for this day. he was stone-faced and staring at the jury, when the verdict was read. >> finally, someone heard kathleen's cry. 12 people did the right thing. thank god. >> reporter: it's the justice kathleen savio's family never thought they would get. drew peterson's five-week murder trial centered on controversial hearsay evidence, that he had threatened savio. after hours of deliberations, 11 jurors agreed that peterson was guilty of first-degree murder. and they took five more hours to convince a holdout. >> i did not feel comfortable with joining the rest of the jury to convict. i was concerned about the hearsay evidence. >> reporter: savio and peterson were in the middle of a contentious divorce when she was found dead in 2004. the former chicago police officer was charged after her body was exhumed and her

and peterson could now face up to 60 years in prison. abc's alex perez is in chicago with the very latt on this case. good morning, alex. >> reporter: good morning, elizabeth. peterson had been behind bars waiting 3 1/2 years for this day. he was stone-faced and staring at the jury, when the verdict was read. >> finally, someone heard kathleen's cry. 12 people did the right thing. thank god. >> reporter: it's the justice kathleen savio's family never thought they would get. drew peterson's five-week murder trial centered on controversial hearsay evidence, that he had threatened savio. after hours of deliberations, 11 jurors agreed that peterson was guilty of first-degree murder. and they took five more hours to convince a holdout. >> i did not feel comfortable with joining the rest of the jury to convict. i was concerned about the hearsay evidence. >> reporter: savio and peterson were in the middle of a contentious divorce when she was found dead in 2004. the former chicago police officer was charged after her body was exhumed and her de

and they're like, no, up there at the petersons' house. i said, it's not the petersons', right? they said, no, it's the petersons'. i'm like, really? they were the nicest people. >> reporter: the family had lived in the house for 28 years. they were the original homeowners. >> these guys are nice people. you know, they were always sitting out there, always waving to everybody, always having a good time, grilling. i didn't really talk to them much, but every time i walked up there, they were saying, how are you doing, how is your day going. >> reporter: at westfield high school this morning, students gathered to try to come to grips with the terrible loss of a classmate and friend. dr. kathleen chairs the department of social work at george mason university. she knows parents in the community are struggling with how to help their children deal with this. >> you need to as a parent be aware that it may come up at some time later, or unexpected context, because they may make connections that you might not. >> reporter: a candlelight vigil for the peterson family will be held at the

authorities presumed stacy peterson is dead. her body has never been found. >> it's the first step to put away. maybe somebody will come forward that maybe knows something about my sister and they feel safe now that they've come forward now that he's put away. >> drew peterson facing up to 60 years when he's sentenced. >>> we have breaking news for you out of a high school in hyattsville. according to the washington post, five football players have been yanked from the program. according to one of the parents, players hired prostitutes from a call service in north carolina. some even engaged in sex at a teen hotel. all this following the team's season opening victory last night. >>> well, a heated night on the field between the nationals and at cubs. a pitch aimed right at bryce harper and it emptied both dugouts. we'll have the rest. >>> what happens when you have an angry, vengeful ex? just ask that guy. the stunt that ended with the fbi pulling their guns on him on a plane. >>> we're looking at a little fog developing overnig

courtroom pictures showed a stone-faced drew peterson. after just two days the jury was won over by a largely circleal case that according to one juror hinged on hearsay testimony that originated from peterson's missing fourth wife stacy whose whereabouts are still unknown. sentencing is set for september 126th. peterson faces up to 60 years in jail. >>> and now here's a look at some other stories making news early today in america. in maryland, newly released video shows a big rig hitting a police car and seriously injuring a trooper. unbelievable. the officers was performing a traffic stop when the truck slammed into his vehicle and then him. the officer may actually lose the use of his right arm. authorities say this is exactly why drivers need to slow down or move over when emergency vehicles are stopped. i'd say so. >>> well, in new york a man was killed after this fight at a gas station. a customer allegedly attacked a gas station agent, but it was the attendant who turned the tables and began hitting and kicking the customer, who l

how is scott peterson at that -- peterson is adapting to prison life. we talked to lieutenant sam robinson who spent eight years of his career as a guard on death row. he says most condemned men make no trouble. >> there are a couple of guys that they look right at the units and you say, you have a different that makes your skin crawl, yeah. >> reporter: this is scott peterson as he appeared entering sam quintin 2-1/2 years ago. peterson not only gets love letters, he also gets money. strangers have mailed him thousands of dollars. >> with scott i would say that he's adjusted very, very well. he hasn't had any issues with any of the other inmate population that he's allowed to interact with. he stays to himself, he minds the rules here. he's become a programming inmate. >> reporter: peterson is not the only celebrity on the row. richard ramirez the night stalker gets requests for locks of his hair. ramirez is responsible for at least 16 horrifying murders. a rapists, slasher torturer. >> my first interaction with richard ramirez. i remember about 12 yea

wife, stacy peterson. &p1:10 lopez says: "everybody i america wants drew petersoo convicted because of stacey.. so they tried tt uue kathy to get to him and there is no even dead." all that stacey is dead." a spokesperson for the family oo stacy peterson says two cases are linked because thh two women are linked.peterson has pleaded not guilty to first-degree muuder. if convicted... he faces a maximum 60-yyar prison sentence. a trial... involving michael jackson's mother and a business partner... begins how much katherine jackson's business partner must pay the late ennertainer's estate... in a bbok about the jackson family. jackson's estate says the publisher acted with pstate's rights. the jury must decide the fair market alue of the copyrights... includdng for screen shots from thee "this is it" documentary. move over, big mac... mcdonalds is now gearing up to open its first-ever ávegetarianá restaurant.the 2 new stores will be located in indda... near the golden temple.mcdonald's in indii menu becaus

the parents were al and kathy peterson and their sons matt and chris and police say al peterson shot his wife and sons before turning that gun on himself. peggy fox joins us to tell us about how the herndon community is remembering them. peg? >> reporter: well, i can tell you this morning the bodies were removed from the home and about two hours ago police removed the crime scene tape. now it almost looks surreal. the husband and wife's car is still parked in front of the home. the family is gone. there is no sign of the terrible tragedy that happened monday morning here. at the end of what had to be a tough day westfield high schoolteachers and staff gave their students an emotional sendoff as the long line of school buses departed. this morning there was a prayer vigil at west neil to remember their fellow student and friend, 16-year-old matt peterson who is in the 10th grade. there was also grief at rachel carson middle school where his brother, 13-year-old chris, was an 8th grader. the brothers were killed along with their mother, 52-year-old kathy peterson. police say her long t

now, jury deliberations are under way in the murder trial of drew peterson. good afternoon. i am dina bair. and i'm nancy loo. we welcome our viewers who are watching us around the country on wgn america and on the web. wgn's tonya francisco is live at the courthouse in joliet with our top story. within the first hour they sent a note to the judge requesting the transcript for the weekend of kathleen savio step of the phone records between drew peterson and his fourth wife stacey ... they wanted more information on the testimony of the divorce lawyer ... the judge denied that particular request and then he received another note ... the transcript on the discussion about the police report where it was reported drew peterson threaten the life of his third wife ... >>it doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure out who did this >>the sister kathleen savio is certain that drew peterson is guilty but it's up to the jury to decide ... he was to march with two counts of first-degree murder in the what death of his third wife of kathleen savio ... the case got reopened in 2007 after th

court sketches show a stone faced peterson and happy savio family. the jury was won over by a largely circumstantial case that according to one juror hinged on hearsay testimony that originated from peterson's fourth wise, stacy, whose whereabouts are still unknown. sentencing is set for november 26th. peterson faces up to 60 years in prison. >>> now here's a look at some other stories making news early today in america. in maryland, newly released video shows a big rig hitting a police car and seriously injuring a trooper. the officer was performing a traffic stop when the truck slammed into his vehicle and then into him. the officer may lose the use of his right arm. this is exactly why drivers need to slow down, move over when emergency vehicles are stopped. >>> in new york, a man was killed after his -- this fight at a gas station. a customer allegedly attacked a gas station attendant, but it was the attendant who turned the tables and began hitting and kicking the customer who later died. the attendant has been questioned but not charged. >>> an

drew peterson insisted stacy had run off with another man. he spoke with matt in november 2007. >> can you look me straight in the eye and tell me you had nothing to do with the death of your third wife kathy or the disappearance of your fourth wife stacy. >> i can look right in your eye and say i had nothing to do with either of those instances. >> reporter: but acquaintances of stacy came forward with stories they say she told them, how peterson had threatened to kill her and how peterson had asked her to provide him for an alibi for the night savio died. >> i couldn't come up with any reason, in my mind, to not put him at the scene beyond a reasonable doubt. >> reporter: in 2008, the state of illinois passed a law allowing such hearsay evidence to be used in court. it was dubbed the drew law. >> will this conviction stick? in my opinion, we will end up .supreme court of the united states on this case. >> reporter: peterson's defense team immediately said it plans to appeal his conviction for savio's murder. >> it was hearsay evidence allow

disney pulled out. >> a new world class resort casino. >> reporter: but now peterson has a plan to fix it. >> this is a resort. this isn't just a casino. along with the upscale restaurants, along with the upscale retail is another ammenity called a casino. >> why did politicians negotiate with out of state casino operators in secret? >> reporter: peterson's casino dreams have faced a furious onslaught funded in large part by penn national which makes millions on casinos in west virginia and pennsylvania. >> but we've heard those empty claims before. >> good paying jobs. >> reporter: cesar's and mgm and peterson have responded with a barrage of ads of their own. >> we have a demand in the city here. >> reporter: one poll suggests maryland voters are just about evenly split on this question despite the millions of dollars that have been spent on both sides. bruce leshan, 9 news now. >>> a pop warner league's investigating whether or not one of its football teams is paying players for big hits and hurting opponents. this happened in orange county, california. a former assistant coach for

as for the missing stacy peterson, prosecutors may use their success in this case to go after drew peterson again. >> we took him on now and he lost. [ cheers and applause ] >> reporter: for "today," veronica de la cruz, nbc news, new york. >>> we want to get a check of the weather now from wnbc's raphael miranda, who's here with us this morning. raphael, good morning again. >> good morning, guys. it's been so muggy here in the northeast over the last couple days. we have a strong cold front that will change that, but in between, we have a severe to strong risk for thunderstorms for later today for new york city, down to philly, baltimore, even into interior new england, watching out for wind damage, very heavy rain, dangerous lightning and a few isolated tornadoes not out of the question as you're heading throughout the day, especially later on this afternoon. watch out for those storms. you can see the radar shows a strong line of storms already marching across western pennsylvania, all this associated with a cold front that's going to slide on towards the east throughout the day today. b

. >>> it is a guilty verdict for drew peterson. the chicago area police sergeant charged with killing his third wife. a jury convicted peterson largely on hearsay evidence from friends and relatives of kathleen savio and stacy peterson, wife number four who vanished i 2007. he sat still as the verdict was read. but savio's family could not hold back their emotions. >> finally, somebody heard kathleen's cry. 12 people did the right thing. >> i'll never have my sister again. i'll see her in the cemetery. but at least i know she got justice. >> there is no death penalty in illinois. but peterson could spend the rest of his fe in prison. he's not been charged in stacy peterson's disappearance. >>> in other news this morning the catholic bishop of kansas city, missouri, has been found guilty of shielding an abusive priest. he waited six months before reporting that a priest had child pornography on his computer. he was guinn a six-month sentence. >>> an earthquake has shaken up beverly hills for the second time in a week. the 3.4 trembl

. >>> it is a guilty verdict for drew peterson. the chicago area police sergeant charged with killing his third wife. a jury convicted peterson largely on hearsay evidence from friends and relatives of kathleen savio and stacy peterson, wife number four who vanished in 2007. he sat stills the verdict was read. but savio's family could not hold back their emotions. >> finally, somebody heard kathleen's cry. 12 people did the right thing. >> i'll never have my sister again. i'll see her in the cemetery. but at least i know she got justice. >> there is no death penalty in illinois. but peterson could spend the rest of his life in prison. he's not been charged in stacy peterson's disappearance. >>> in other news this morning the catholic bishop of kansas city, missouri, has been found guilty of shielding an abusive priest. he waited six months before reporting that a priest had child pornography on his computer. he was guinn a six-month sentence. >>> an earthquake has shaken up beverly hills for the second time in a week. the 3.4 tremb

drew peterson was never charged in her disappearance. >> they got this one down. they did a great job with it. stacy's case is right around the corner. >> reporter: the sentencing hearing is scheduled november 26th. in chicago steve brown, fox news. >>> up next let the campaign season officially begin. our expert compares the dnc to the rnc and ann romney has a message for female voters in > if you see a story we should look into, let us know. call us at 202-895-3000 or send your news tips to fox5tips@wttg.com. we will be right back. we're sitting on a bunch of shale gas. there's natural gas under my town. it's a game changer. ♪ it means cleaner, cheaper american-made energy. but we've got to be careful how we get it. design the wells to be safe. thousands of jobs. use the most advanced technology to protect our water. billions in the economy. at chevron, if we can't do it right, we won't do it at all. we've got to think long term. we've got to think long term. ♪ this president can tell us it was someone else's fault. but this president cannot tell us that you

ex-con drew peterson is convicted of the 2004 murder of his wife, kathleen savio. >>> and a rare display. pieces of the late neil armstrong's historic space suit go on display for the very first time in a decade. good morning, everyone. i'm lynn berry. those stories and more are straight ahead. this is "first look" on msnbc. >>> and we're going to begin this morning with the final countdown. with the election just two months away, the end of the democrats' national convention last night featuring an address by president obama marks a fresh starting point for the race for the white house, and nbc's tracie potts joins us from charlotte with details this morning. tracie, good morning. >> reporter: lynn, good morning. they're breaking down now, but this place was packed last night. the fire marshal declared it at capacity early in the evening, hours before president obama spoke. ♪ will it make it easier on you now ♪ >> reporter: after a final night of music, jokes -- >> i know it's an empty chair. it makes you nervous, doesn't it? >> reporter: and speeches, including the vice president's